The University of Canberra Capitals have secured their eighth WNBL championship, defeating Adelaide Lightning 93-73 in game three of the grand final series.
With captain Kelsey Griffin (29 points, 15 rebounds) leading from the front, the Capitals completed a 2-1 series win on Saturday evening at AIS Arena for their first title since the 2009-10 season.
A two-time WNBL champion and grand final MVP winner with the Bendigo Spirit, Griffin claimed both honours for a third time after averaging 25 points and 16 rebounds over the series.
The minor premiers shook off the disappointment of Wednesday's controversial finish to game two, won 74-73 by Adelaide, to blow out the visitors after a tight opening half.
"Obviously it was everyone's goal to win the championship this year," Capitals guard Leilani Mitchell told Fox Sports after winning her second WNBL championship, having led Sydney Uni Flames to the 2016-17 title.
"We have a lot of big names on our team but I think the key for us was playing together.
"I think a lot of us made the sacrifices we needed to make sure we gelled and we clicked and I think it showed all season."
Canberra's long-range assault (14 three-pointers at 60 per cent accuracy) proved too much for the Lightning to handle with all five starters scoring in double figures.
Adelaide reserves Colleen Planeta (15) and Aimie Clydesdale (14) stepped up, with star import Nia Coffey restricted to four points in 16 minutes after getting in early foul trouble.
But the visitors could not keep up with Canberra as they fell short of a dream finish to an impressive second half of the season.
The Lightning made an ideal start to the championship decider by jumping out to a seven-point lead, but Canberra's outside shooting came to the fore, sinking five-of-seven three-point attempts to lead 25-24 after one quarter.
Adelaide suffered a blow when Coffey picked up her third foul early in the second quarter but Planeta tallied 12 points for the half.
The home side went into the main break ahead 49-45 and outscored Adelaide 18-7 to open the third stanza, triples from Griffin, Kia Nurse (twice) and Leilani Mitchell extending the lead to 15 points.
Adelaide stayed in the contest by holding Canberra scoreless for a four-minute stretch, but Kelly Wilson and Mitchell combined for seven points to close the quarter with a 74-62 advantage.
Canberra went for the kill early in the final quarter with Marianna Tolo joining Griffin to push the lead beyond Adelaide's reach.
Australian Associated Press
